None this week!

 

 

 

Craig Buhrendorf rose to introduce our speaker, Katie Bussiere of Canton, a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship recipient. Craig reported that Katie had

just completed a year of graduate study at the University of Cambridge, enabled by that scholarship, which was funded by donations from our Club, from District 7890 and from matching grants from the Rotary Foundation. He noted Katie's experience as "an outstanding example of how effective our Foundation donations can be." He indicated that Katie would share her experiences overseas and her hopes for her future with us. "I anticipate that she will impress you as much today as she impressed the members of the numerous Rotary clubs she spoke to overseas."

 

Katie Bussiere opened with profound gratitude for receiving Rotary's Global Grant Scholarship: "I hope to convey my gratitude and how impactful my experience was", she said. "My master's program was entitled "Research in 2nd Language Education" and I worked with refugees during my time in Cambridge. My passion is helping disadvantaged learners to learn English."

 

 

As a Cambridge student and Rotary grant recipient, Katie lived and worked with a cohort of other foreign students from all over the world. It was a diverse group in which she was the only American. Their programs included course work, essay writing and training, and this all occurred within the framework of a supportive community of peers and mentors. She attended class every day and also engaged in field work, which in her case involved a local, charitable refugee organization, Syrian vulnerable persons, a resettlement program, English as a Second Language classes (ESOL) and social gatherings. The social gathering often included between 20 to 25 children who were entertained with art related activities.

 

 

Teaching included basic English for life skills such as writing one's name and naming parts of the body and common objects. Her field work involved understanding refugees social interaction and English language learning skills to determine how those elements related to their success in their new lives.

Many of the refugees she studied has originated from refugee camps in Lebanon, and had been there a long time. This research led directly to her 20 thousand word dissertation, the culmination of her year long educational experience. In order to understand the refugees experiences, she conducted interviews with the refugees themselves, their teachers and the local city council. Her goal was to determine how well they were learning English and therefore able to get an hold a job and lead "normal" lives.

 

Katie's findings included:

 

1. The refugee participants commitment to language learning was strong, especially for the men, as they sought to retain their traditional cultural status as providers for their families and children.

2. Refugee views on the value of their local community's acceptance of and support for their presence was important. Katie related an anecdote about two different refugee couples she was aware of that had very different experiences. The first couple had strong neighbor support. Their neighbors befriended them, introduced them to others and shared experiences with them in the local area. The second couple were at best ignored by the neighbors, and worst were treated in an unfriendly and disdainful manner, including avoidance of communication. As you can imagine there was a big difference  between the two couples on how they described their success in learning the language and getting along. The first couple had much better English language skills, and had adapted to their new lives better than the second.

 

3. Conversational skills are the most desired goal among language skills.

 

4. Learning English helped the refugees integration into society.

 

On a personal note, Katie conveyed that she gained subject matter expertise in teaching ESOL skills, research skills and in the conduction of field work with vulnerable populations. In the latter area, ethical concerns are a key element.

 

Other experiences included gaining a valuable network of peers and mentors, opportunities for continued research in the future and insights into how to transition into future non-governmental organization (NGO) or social enterprise work. Katie has recently learned that another Cambridge student plans to continue her work during their year in Cambridge.

 

At this point, Mateen Haider of the Manchester Rotary Club, rose to add his insights to the way in which Rotary Global Grant Scholarship recipients live and work while studying abroad. A local "primary" host family acts as an ambassador to the student, and as American grant recipients are required to study internationally, many choose the United Kingdom simply because the English language is spoken and there are therefore few barriers to the student's fully experiencing all that the year abroad has to offer. In England, American students most often attend the University of Cambridge as Katie did, or the University of Oxford or the London School of Economics. Tuition is steep at approximately $38,000.00 per annum, but is comparable to a Harvard or a Yale in programming and cost. While at Cambridge Katie was under the sponsorship of Rotary District 1080 and the Rotary Club of Cambridge. The Cambridge Cub hosts a welcome dinner for Rotary scholarship students each year.

 

 

Following Mr. Haider's comments, Katie shared some of her general experiences while studying abroad which included learning about English history, and the opportunity to address 13 Rotary Clubs throughout the District. She spoke about her current experiences at Cambridge, as well as about her background, her studies, Connecticut and our Rotary Club. She learned some of the English Rotarian's traditions, which include a raised glasses,  toast to the Queen after every meal.

 

 

Another project Katie became involved with while studying at Cambridge was the Rotary Peace Project. UK Rotary clubs have a "peace officer" and the Clubs offer train-the-trainer education known as "Rotary Peace Training" which Katie took part in. Essentially conflict resolution techniques, the training also includes general leadership skills.

 

Katie also participated in "International Scholars Week, hosted by the Rotary Club of Norwich (England, not Connecticut, for those of you who may not know)

She spent the night at a Rotarian's family home and had a tour of the city as a part of the experience.

 

In response to Rotarian questions Katie noted there are far fewer women in Rotary in England. (As you can imagine, this observation was not received silently by some of our more humorous members!) Asked about the refugees attitudes about assimilation into the local culture, Katie observed, "the refugees see England as their new home, especially as they often had nothing left where they came from."

 

At Cambridge, Katie lived on campus and primarily used bicycles for local travel. Bicycling is the primary mode of commuting in the Cambridge area and the campus is built to accommodate bicycles. She also observed, and on at least one occasion had the opportunity to travel via punt, or small flat bottomed boats, which are prevalent on the River Cam, which flows through Cambridge.

 

There are 31 colleges that make up the University of Cambridge, and the college she was affiliated with was Darwin College, named for the explorer. Black robes are worn on formal occasions on campus in many settings, including some meals. Cows (defined here as members of the species Bos taurus or Bos indicus) roam freely on campus by a tradition that apparently dates to the 16th century and the freedom to use "the commons" by farmers.

 

Katie once saw Steven Hawking on campus amidst an entourage of followers or assistants.

 

 

In closing, Katie remarked she had, had "an incredible year, and was fortunate to have her field work and dissertation completed" and added that "Rotary took a chance in supporting me, and I am eternally grateful. I look forward to  continuing to give back for the rest of my career and the rest of my life."

 

Currently Katie is spending time with her family in Canton, and has many interviews lined up for future employment, which she hopes will bring her back to the Washington, DC area, as she is interested in working on policy in the future. She hopes to continue to work with Rotary of Cambridge to create an alumni program from afar, and perhaps serve as a leader within that program.

 

 

None today.